David Bigelow was born in Ann Arbor Michigan and raised in Mt. Morris, Mich. He received his BFA in printmaking and painting and MFA in Printmaking and Drawing from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. As a graduate student he began his teaching career at Albion College, in Albion, Mich. He then taught part-time at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Mott Community College, before he accepted a full-time position in art at Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro. Seven years later, he “retired” as an associate professor to pursue a career as a studio artist. He has spent the last 18 years teaching art at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He continues to teach all who are interested in the “user friendliness” of art. In 1980, David officially started Bigelow Studios to create and sell his work, which can be found at galleries and juried art fairs. In partnership with his wife, Marcia, Bigelow Studios has produced approximately 650 images that average editions of 200. He continues to sell work worldwide. David has been drawing since he was four years old. His love of the etching process came when he was in undergraduate school.
The etching process is a traditional technique that includes a metal plate covered with an acid resist that is then drawn on with a metal point, then immersed in acid. The time of immersion determines the variety in the line and value. He then prints the image on his 1800 pound American French Tool etching press. The prints are then dried, water-colored, signed and numbered in limited editions which are original works of art. He only uses the highest quality archival materials. David uses animals, vegetables and minerals to communicate ideas about human foibles. He tries to make serious art with humorous content. He typically draws many pages in his sketchbooks, working until the ideas come, then he refines the sketches and draws them on the metal plates. He looks for the profound in the mundane and for the obscure in the obvious. Humor is an important means to the end of communicating truth.  David believes that art is for all.